topic Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES in Fashion

QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Spurt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:11:54 GMT

I'm just curious......QVC is always comparing their prices to Boutiques.....I'm wondering how many of you fashionistas actually DO shop in Boutiques?????

And I'm defining Boutique as....

bou·tique

a small store selling fashionable clothes or accessories.
a business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele:
"a small investment boutique" ·

I feel QVC is off the mark comparing their clothing prices to Boutiques which are more expensive, rather than a more accurate comparison which would be Department Stores or Discount Stores or Online Clothing Retailers. Comparing themselves to Boutiques is making QVC clothing prices less and less competitive......While yes QVC is convenient, other online retailers offer the same convenience....sometimes with better prices and shipping deals....JMHO...

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Snicks1 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:15:58 GMT

The only time I shop in boutiques is if I am on vacation and happen upon one that looks interesting. Otherwise it's online or B&M department stores. I agree with what you said about the false comparison QVC and other TS shopping channels make.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

software — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:17:51 GMT

In my mind, the pupose of shopping in a boutique is to find items that are not mass-marketed & mass produced. For example, in a department store, you can find dozens of the same blouse in every size, at every store. All over the country.

A boutique only buys small quantities so you don't see yourself coming & going.

Price is not necessarily higher in a boutique.

I do shop at boutiques for a special occasion, not every day items. And boutiques usually have great accessories you don't find everywhere.

And QVC comparing themselves to a boutique is a joke!

Maybe someone has a different opinion.

@Spurt wrote:
I'm just curious......QVC is always comparing their prices to Boutiques.....I'm wondering how many of you fashionistas actually DO shop in Boutiques?????

And I'm defining Boutique as....

bou·tique

a small store selling fashionable clothes or accessories.
a business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele:
"a small investment boutique" ·

I feel QVC is off the mark comparing their clothing prices to Boutiques which are more expensive, rather than a more accurate comparison which would be Department Stores or Discount Stores or Online Clothing Retailers. Comparing themselves to Boutiques is making QVC clothing prices less and less competitive......While yes QVC is convenient, other online retailers offer the same convenience....sometimes with better prices and shipping deals....JMHO...

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Andreatoo — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:20:55 GMT

@Spurt

good points! Especially when you consider that boutique is often synonymous with unique and special and the Q rarely offers either of those! They're trying to please too many different people at once....

As for the original question I'd have to say 'no'. Department stores are less limiting in their selections while a boutique is usually specific to a certain style or demographic of shopper, i.e., Chico's, White House/Black Market, etc...

I do like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor though......(sales!)

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

ALRATIBA — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:31:02 GMT

Using your #1 definition ... I do. I no longer have the patience to shop in department stores.

Lots of small locally owned shops in my general area - tucked in on the side streets. I have one just down the street from my apt.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:34:33 GMT

@Andreatoo wrote:
@Spurt
good points! Especially when you consider that boutique is often synonymous with unique and special and the Q rarely offers either of those! They're trying to please too many different people at once....

As for the original question I'd have to say 'no'. Department stores are less limiting in their selections while a boutique is usually specific to a certain style or demographic of shopper, i.e., Chico's, White House/Black Market, etc...
I do like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor though......(sales!)

I guess I wouldn't consider Chico's, White House/Black Market, Ann Taylor, etc. a boutique because they are pretty much everywhere. Maybe what I'm thinking of as a boutique is really more of a specialty store?

There are some stores in the downtown area of a neighboring city and they offer clothing items, handbags, and other accessories that are pretty unique and not items you can find in any other stores in my area nor are the lines sold in dept. stores. Then they also sell Pandora and other well known lines of jewelry, handbags, etc. I guess that is what I think of when I think of a boutique. So no, I don't shop there often but I do shop there occassionally.

I have always thought most of QVC clothing is along the lines of JcPenney, Kohls, Macy's. Definitely not boutique.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

mstyrion 1 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:38:12 GMT

I am an equal opportunity shopper. As with most women who like fashion and love to shop, I go everywhere from Target to Nordstrom's and everything in between.

I like boutiques for the uniqueness of the clothing and I like some things at QVC just as much. I don't spend a lot of time analyzing my shopping habits!

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Pearlee — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:40:55 GMT

I do, and have for many years. And "high end" boutiques at that!

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

SeaMaiden — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:47:40 GMT

Never

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Bird mama — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 16:48:37 GMT

@Spurt

Girl I'm 5'10 and most boutiques don't have anything that fit these arms and legs of mine. Not a boutiquie person.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Andreatoo — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 17:38:45 GMT

@Lipstickdiva

I think boutique can be ambiguous but in my head it's small, specialty-ish, and (generally) exclusively a single designer/manufacturer.

Boutiques are also those little shops on the boardwalk, etc., that sell clothing and chatchkes...

What term would you use for the shops I referenced?

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Spurt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:19:30 GMT

@Andreatoo wrote:
@Lipstickdiva
I think boutique can be ambiguous but in my head it's small, specialty-ish, and (generally) exclusively a single designer/manufacturer.

Boutiques are also those little shops on the boardwalk, etc., that sell clothing and chatchkes...

What term would you use for the shops I referenced?

@Lipstickdiva

I agree with your analysis....when I think of Boutique I think of small shops sometimes in special parts of town....that carry UNIQUE clothing ---clothing manufacturers you don't see in Department Stores. They also carry high end fashion jewelry and accessories...

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Spurt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:07:41 GMT

@software wrote:
In my mind, the pupose of shopping in a boutique is to find items that are not mass-marketed & mass produced. For example, in a department store, you can find dozens of the same blouse in every size, at every store. All over the country.

A boutique only buys small quantities so you don't see yourself coming & going.

Price is not necessarily higher in a boutique.

I do shop at boutiques for a special occasion, not every day items. And boutiques usually have great accessories you don't find everywhere.

And QVC comparing themselves to a boutique is a joke!

Maybe someone has a different opinion.

@software

Great analysis!

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Spurt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:21:42 GMT

@Bird mama wrote:
@Spurt

Girl I'm 5'10 and most boutiques don't have anything that fit these arms and legs of mine. Not a boutiquie person.

@Bird mama

If it makes you feel any better.....I'm 5'2" and they usually don't have anything that fits me either....If I pay top dollar I don't want to pay for alternations on top of it to make things fit particularly in the length (dresses, skirts and pants).....

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Spurt — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:17:29 GMT

@Andreatoo wrote:
@Spurt
good points! Especially when you consider that boutique is often synonymous with unique and special and the Q rarely offers either of those! They're trying to please too many different people at once....

As for the original question I'd have to say 'no'. Department stores are less limiting in their selections while a boutique is usually specific to a certain style or demographic of shopper, i.e., Chico's, White House/Black Market, etc...
I do like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor though......(sales!)

@Andreatoo

I concur about your comment that QVC rarey offers anything unique and special ....in fact I think all their brands are starting to blend into one style and its difficult to tell them apart anymore...

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

MacDUFF — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:19:47 GMT

I shop fairly regularly in a little boutique near me, and I shop boutiques when I'm on vacation. There is no way I would consider QVC a boutique. No way.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

Puppy Lips — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:39:50 GMT

@MacDUFF wrote:
I shop fairly regularly in a little boutique near me, and I shop boutiques when I'm on vacation. There is no way I would consider QVC a boutique. No way.

I agree. I never see anything sold on QVC that I would consider "boutique worthy." They like to compare themselves to boutiques to make their prices look better. But really, their stuff is more in line with department store & big box quaility.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

MacDUFF — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:50:05 GMT

@Spurt

@Puppy Lips

I would like to include an addendum to my post...LDO (many of his things, I think) and a few Simonton pieces are/were boutique-worthy...if not boutique, then high-end dept store for sure. I have a few older sequined scarves from Joan that are very unusual and high quality. But, for the majority of clothing here...not boutique, but middle-range dept store quality. I agree with puppy that the Q is trying to justify some of their ridiculous prices by attempting to link themselves to boutiques...which is not happening for me at all.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

KaySD — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:50:42 GMT

I do sometimes shop in all the various categories, from catalogs to outlets to department stores to smaller chains to boutiques. To me, the closest comparison to QVC is Macy's (not including the highest end departments at Macy's). Both have a range of brands and quality levels, both run frequent sales and promotions, and both have house brands that are reasonably priced. I like both. Macy's has the wider selection and overall the better sales by a pretty big margin, and of course you can try things on, if you have a local store. QVC has the videos to look at, and sometimes the easy pays are helpful on higher priced items.

Re: QUESTION? HOW MANY QVC FASHIONISTAS ACTUALLY SHOP IN BOUTIQUES

lilypad3 — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:56:57 GMT

I would love to shop there to support small businesses and I do for things other than clothes. I'm very petite and boutiques to not have clothes that fit me.